Texas Public Policy Foundation

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📍 Drive to BONHAM ISD Office   📅 Monday, September 14, 2026 to Calendar
📄 View Official Agenda
Heads up, taxpayers and parents: We’ve audited the upcoming BONHAM ISD agenda. There are 6 items targeting parental consent and taxpayer funds that need your immediate attention before the gavel falls.
🚨 Alert (LEVEL 9)
Board to Vote on 2026-2027 Property Tax Rate
📅 Scheduled Action
The board will hold a public hearing (Item 11) and then immediately vote to adopt the new property tax rate (Item 12). This vote is the single most important decision determining the property tax bill for every homeowner and business in the district.
Response

SHOW UP for the Public Hearing on Item 11. Contact the Board (see official agenda for contact info): ‘I urge you to adopt the No-New-Revenue tax rate in Item 12. Do not increase the tax burden on Bonham families.’

💰 Impact: Potential Property Tax Increase
🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 6)
Vague ‘Certification of Compliance with Certain Laws’
📅 Scheduled Action
The board is holding a public hearing and then voting to certify compliance with completely unspecified laws. This lack of detail prevents the public from knowing what new policies, regulations, or legal liabilities the district is adopting on their behalf.
Response

DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Contact the Board (see official agenda for contact info): ‘What specific laws are being certified in Items 20 and 21? Post the documentation online before any vote is taken. Taxpayers deserve to know what you are agreeing to.’

💰 Impact: Undisclosed Policy Changes
🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 6)
Requires Verification

Board to Consider Changes to District Grading Procedures
📅 Scheduled Action
The board is considering action on district grading procedures. This could involve routine updates or the introduction of controversial policies like “equity grading,” which can lower academic standards by removing penalties for late work or allowing infinite retakes.
Response

INVESTIGATE: Open the file attached to Item 22 in the Official Agenda (linked above) to review the proposed changes. Email the Board: ‘Ensure that any changes to grading procedures maintain high academic standards and accountability.’

💰 Impact: Lowered Academic Standards
🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 5)
Requires Verification

Vague ‘Amended Budget’ Vote Scheduled
📅 Scheduled Action
The board will vote on an “Amended Budget” without providing the document or a summary of the changes in the agenda. Budget amendments can be used to approve new spending outside of the regular budget cycle, bypassing public scrutiny.
Response

INVESTIGATE: Open the file attached to Item 15 in the Official Agenda (linked above) to see what spending is being changed or added. Demand the board explain all changes from the dais before the vote.

💰 Impact: Undisclosed Spending
🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 5)
Board to Approve Rules for Federal Head Start Program
📅 Scheduled Action
The board is voting to approve multiple procedural documents for the Fannin County Head Start program. Head Start is a federal program that often comes with significant strings attached regarding curriculum, staffing, and data collection, which limits local control and can create future costs for local taxpayers.
Response

DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the district office (see official agenda link): ‘Before voting on Items 17, 18, and 19, please clarify what new federal mandates the district is accepting through the Head Start program and what the long-term cost to local taxpayers will be.’

💰 Impact: Federal Strings Attached
✅ Wins to Defend
Good moves worth showing up to support so they stick.
Major Win (LEVEL 8)
District Proposes Paying Off Bonds Early
📅 Scheduled Action
The board is considering an order for the “defeasance and/or redemption” of outstanding district bonds, which means paying off existing debt ahead of schedule. This is a fiscally responsible move that saves taxpayers significant money on future interest payments.
How to Secure It

SECURE THE WIN: Show up to thank the Board for this fiscally responsible action on Item 14. Getting this on the record encourages more districts to pay down debt instead of issuing more.

✅ Why It Matters: Taxpayer Savings
District Info
Address 1005 CHESTNUT ST, BONHAM, TX 75418
“Freedom, Prosperity &
Opportunity”
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